Historic Prairie flooding, top weather story of 2011

Linda Nguyen, Postmedia News12.30.2011

The top weather story this year was the historic spring and summer flooding in the Prairies, says Environment Canada. Here, workers look on as the Assiniboine River flows through a controlled release in the dike at Hoop and Holler Bend near Portage La Prairie, Man. May 14, 2011Handout
/ Government of Manitoba

Yvon St. Louis (L) stands outside his partially flooded home as he speaks with neighbour Stephane Lecompte (R) in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, south of Montreal on Tuesday, May 10, 2011.Dario Ayala
/ Montreal Gazette

A member of a team of Cambridge scientists trying to find out why Arctic sea ice is melting so fast, walks on some drift ice 500 miles (800 km) from the North Pole September 3, 2011. The sea ice area retreats each summer and this year is closing on a record low in 2007. With one week of the melt season to go, it is now less than two-thirds of the area it covered in the early 1970s. The sea ice, distinct from ice sheets hundreds of metres thick over rock in Greenland, floats on the Arctic Ocean and wildlife including polar bears and walruses depend on it for survival. Picture taken September 3, 2011.Reuters
/ Stuart McDill

TORONTO — It wasn't the devastating F3 tornado that blew threw Goderich, Ont., or the massive fire that destroyed much of Slave Lake, Alta., the biggest weather story of the year was the historic flooding in the Prairies, says Environment Canada.

""We use that expression, 'the flood of the century' but hey this could've been the flood of the millennium. The flood of all times for sure," said senior climatologist David Phillips, who on Thursday unveiled Environment Canada's annual Top 10 Weather List.

Damages caused by the "unprecedented" flooding is pegged at more than $1 billion, making it the second-costliest weather event in Canadian history following the 1998 ice storm which toppled trees and caused major outages throughout Eastern Canada.

The widespread flooding began after a "weather bomb" hit parts of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and parts of northern Ontario in the winter resulting in a record-breaking snowmelt in the spring that saw the riverbanks of six major rivers overflow well into July.

As a result, both Lake Manitoba and the Assiniboine River reported water levels not seen in hundreds of years.

The Armed Forces, and even penitentiary inmates, were relied on throughout this period to help lay down sandbags along the riverbanks.

"We've never seen so much land under water," he said. "People described it as the flood that wouldn't end."

This the 16th year Phillips has compiled this list.

Weather events are picked for a number of factors including its impact, the resulting economic fallout, the area covered and its longevity.

This year's Top 10 was whittled down from more than 130 weather stories, including the current balmy conditions many Canadians are currently experiencing this winter.

From the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan to one of the most deadliest and costliest extreme weather conditions in the U.S., Mother Nature dominated many of the headlines around the world in 2011, said Phillips.

"While Canadians had plenty to weather in 2011, I think we remained remarkably unscathed compared to the perils of our global neighbours," he said. "But we weren't certainly ignored by nature."

Other weather events that made Environment Canada's list for 2011, include:

2. The Slave Lake fire

Although it's suspected arson started the blaze, the fire in Slave Lake, Alta., would not have been as tragic if the weather conditions had not been perfect, said Phillips. Strong winds of up to 100 km/h and extremely dry conditions helped the flames rip through 4,700 hectares of land, destroying one third of the town's homes and businesses.

3. Quebec Floods

In late May, southern Quebec experienced the worst overland flooding in more than a century resulting in hundreds of roads damaged and thousands of hectares of farmland destroyed. About 2,000 residents living near the Richelieu River were forced to deal with the flooding for 37 days.

4. Turbulent farming season in the West

Farmers across the Prairies were faced with a season of droughts and prolonged flooding, which then fortunately turned into one of the greatest farming conditions in years.

5. Tornado in Goderich, Ont.

Last August, an F3 tornado ripped through Goderich, Ont., destroying thousands of homes and killing one person. The tornado was just a precursor of what was to come in the next few days when three other tornadoes blew through Ontario.

6. Hurricanes in Atlantic Canada

This year 19 tropical storms — well above the average of 11 — formed in the Atlantic Basin threatening those who lived in Eastern Canada. Seven of them were classified as hurricanes including Irene, Katia and Ophelia which brought with them heavy rain and strong winds as the hit Atlantic Canada.

7. Hot and balmy vs. rainy and overcast summers

In parts of the country, such as Quebec and Saskatchewan, it seemed like it was an endless summer of heat and humidity. But for those on the West Coast, June, July and August were endless months of rain, overcast and foggy skies. Even Toronto didn't come close to seeing its average number of sticky smog days.

8. Arctic Sea Ice near record low

It was on the list last year and makes an appearance again this year. Phillips says its one of the major events that may have implications on many of the others on this list. The diminishing sea ice covering the Arctic Ocean plummeted to its second-lowest level on record in September to 4.33 million square kilometres. From 1979 to 2000, the average minimum sea ice cover was almost double at seven million square kilometres.

9. Groundhog Day Storm: Snowmaggeddon or Snowbigdeal?

In late January, meteorologists predicted a severe winter storm would wallop up to 100 million people from New Mexico to Newfoundland. When it finally arrived, most parts of the country only saw alight dusting of 10 cm of snow with the major part of the system striking the U.S.

10. Wicked Winds from the West

Records winds, some as strong as 150 km/h, ripped through southern Alberta in November. The property damage, which is still being tabulated, was estimated to be in the millions.

Linnguyen@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/LindaNguyenPN

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